How can you find the least common multiple using ' factorization?

Question

How can you find the least common multiple using &#039; factorization?

Micheal Hensley · Accepted Answer

What is the least common multiple of 12 and 9?
Let's ' factor each of the numbers:
$12 = 6 and 2$
$6 = 2 and 3$
12's ' factors are $2, 2, and 3$
$9 = 3 and 3$
9's ' factors are 3 and 3.
Now make a chart with both of the numbers:
$12 : 2, 2, 3$
$9 : 3, 3$
This is where it gets a little tricky. What we're going to is find the lowest number in our ' factorization. That number is 2. Which number has more 2's: 12 or 9?
12:2, 2, 3
9:3, 3
Obviously, 12 has more 2's because 9 has none.
Now what's the other number in our ' factorization? 3. Which number has more threes?
$12 : 2, 2, ⧸ 3$
$9 : 3, 3$
9 has more 3's than 12, so I am going to cross out the other 3. We only want the part with the most threes.
Put all of the highlighted numbers down into one multiplication problem:
$2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3$
$4 \times 9 = 36$
36 is the least common multiple between 12 and 9.

How can you find the least common multiple using prime

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